Image transmitting method and apparatus and image receiving method and apparatus

Abstract

An image data transmitting apparatus comprises an encoder which encodes input image data, and a transmitter which packetizes encoded data output from the encoder and transmits data packets. The transmitter comprises a delay device which controls a transmission timing of each of the data packets thereby to transmit the data packets at intervals longer that a predetermined value.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An image data transmitting apparatus comprising: 
 means for encoding input image data; and    transmitting means for packetizing encoded data output from said encoding means and transmitting data packets, the transmitting means comprising delay means for controlling a transmission timing of each of the data packets thereby to transmit the data packets at intervals longer that a predetermined value.    
     
     
         2 . The image data transmitting apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said delay means controls the transmission timing based on a bandwidth of a network to be used for transmission of the data packets and a data size of the data packets.  
     
     
         3 . The image data transmitting apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said transmitting means comprises means for storing the encoded data, the encoded data stored in said storing means being transmitted, and said image transmitting apparatus further comprising: 
 means for varying priorities of operations of said encoding means and said transmitting means according to a volume of data stored in said storing means.    
     
     
         4 . The image data transmitting apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said transmitting means comprises means for storing the encoded data, the encoded data stored in said storing means being transmitted, and said image transmitting apparatus further comprising: 
 means for varying a data storage size of said storing means according to an image size of the input image data.    
     
     
         5 . An image data receiving apparatus comprising: 
 means for receiving encoded image data;    means for storing the encoded image data received by said receiving means;    means for decoding the encoded image data stored in said storing means; and    means for varying priorities of operations of said receiving means and said decoding means according to a volume of the image data stored in said storing means.    
     
     
         6 . The image data receiving apparatus according to  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 means for varying a data storage size of said storing means according to a size of the encoded image data.    
     
     
         7 . An image data transmitting method comprising: 
 encoding input image data; and    packetizing encoded data and transmitting data packets, a transmission timing of each of the data packets being controlled thereby transmitting the data packets at intervals longer that a predetermined value.    
     
     
         8 . The image data transmitting method according to  claim 7 , wherein the transmission timing is controlled based on a bandwidth of a network to be used for transmission of the data packets and a data size of the data packets.  
     
     
         9 . The image data transmitting method according to  claim 7 , wherein said transmitting comprises storing the encoded data, the stored encoded data being transmitted, and said method further comprising: 
 varying priorities of operations of said encoding and said transmitting according to a volume of stored data.    
     
     
         10 . The image data transmitting method according to  claim 7 , wherein said transmitting comprises storing the encoded data in storing means, the stored encoded data being transmitted, and said method further comprising: 
 varying a data storage size of said storing means according to an image size of the input image data.    
     
     
         11 . An image data receiving method comprising: 
 receiving encoded image data;    storing the received image data in storing means;    decoding the stored image data; and    varying priorities of operations of said receiving and said decoding according to a volume of the stored image data.    
     
     
         12 . The image data receiving method according to  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 varying a data storage size of said storing means according to a size of the encoded image data.    
     
     
         13 . An image data transmitting apparatus comprising: 
 an encoder configured to encode input image data; and    transmitter configured to packetize encoded data output from said encoder and transmit data packets, the transmitter comprising a delay device configured to control a transmission timing of each of the data packets thereby to transmit the data packets at intervals longer that a predetermined value.    
     
     
         14 . The image data transmitting apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein said delay device controls the transmission timing based on a bandwidth of a network to be used for transmission of the data packets and a data size of the data packets.  
     
     
         15 . The image data transmitting apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein said transmitter comprises a storage configured to store the encoded data, the encoded data stored in said storage being transmitted, and said image transmitting apparatus further comprising: 
 a controller configured to vary priorities of operations of said encoder and said transmitter according to a volume of data stored in said storage.    
     
     
         16 . The image data transmitting apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein said transmitter comprises a storage configured to store the encoded data, the encoded data stored in said storage being transmitted, and said image transmitting apparatus further comprising: 
 a controller configured to vary a data storage size of said storage according to an image size of the input image data.    
     
     
         17 . An image data receiving apparatus comprising: 
 a receiver configured to receive encoded image data;    a storage configured to store the encoded image data received by said receiver;    a decoder configured to decode the encoded image data stored in said storage; and    a controller configured to vary priorities of operations of said receiver and said decoder according to a volume of the image data stored in said storage.    
     
     
         18 . The image data receiving apparatus according to  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 a second controller configured to vary a data storage size of said storage according to a size of the encoded image data.